Tibetan Saga Dawa Festival 2020

Time: 23-07-2019 This Article is Composed by BudgetTibetTour

There are trips, and then there are trips of a lifetime. If you are looking for a life-altering experience instead of just a simple vacation, Tibet Mount Kailash is the place to be. Pilgrims from around the globe make their way to the base of Mt. Kailash to join and celebrate a grand and significant Buddhist festival - Saga Dawa Festival. They come together to pray peace and goodwill for both human nature and all other creatures everywhere. The Saga Dawa Festival 2020 will be held on 29th, May. Now you can start plan your Tibetan Saga Dawa 2020 tour! Read on this article to get more details.

Part 1. Where Does Saga Dawa Festival 2020 Celebrate

During the Saga Dawa month, almost every monastery and religious site in Tibet celebrate this festival. We list the most popular Saga Dawa Festival hold places here for your reference.

Mount Kailash – Prayer flags, kora and rituals

Lake Manasarovar – Swan spotting, religious walk, holy dip and others

Lhasa – Fish liberation, rituals and others

Dzongyab Lukhang Park – Afternoon picnic

Lingka – Gathering for song and music performances

Part 2. What Does Saga Dawa Festival 2020 Celebrate

Tibetan Saga Dawa Festival is held to commemorate and worship the life of the Buddha. It celebrates the three most vital parts of his life: his birth, nirvana, and his death. Literally meaning “Fourth Month,” the Saga Dawa is an event celebrated in the fourth Tibetan month, throughout the entire month. It is considered one of the most religious ceremonies in Tibet.
The Buddha is said to have asked one of his followers not to adore him with mere lights, incense, and flowers. Rather, after his death, he hoped his followers would adhere to his teaching of being kind, compassionate, and loving in life. This is why during the festival, many of the attendees hand out alms asking the crowds of people to be peaceful and not to kill animals.

Part 3. How Does Saga Dawa Festival 2020 Celebrate

Saga Dawa is known as the “month of merits.” During this time, it is believed that the effects of positive and negative actions are multiplied. So believers perform meritorious acts, such as making pilgrimages to sacred places. During the Saga Dawa month, pilgrims make their way to Lhasa and visit the monasteries while taking part in a walk through the Lingkhor path. If you are lucky enough to experience the Saga Dawa festival 2020, you can also have lunch in the Dzongyab Lukhang Park where you can witness thousands of Buddhist followers who have traveled a long way to look out over the mountain and commune with other pilgrims from across the world.

Colorful flags and ceremonial garb adorn the festival with something happening from sun up to sun down. Each year, a new prayer flagpole is erected at Mt Kailash during the festival. Once the flagpole reaches 25 meters, people throw ground barley powder to bring themselves good luck. Then some in attendance will begin their “kora,” or their sacred hike around Mt Kailash. Others will instead make 13 circles around the flagpole, the equivalent to one kora.

Part 4. Advised Tour Routes for Saga Dawa Festival 2020

The Saga Dawa Festival held on the way to Mount Kailash pilgrimage is the most grand and traditional one. We recommend the 15 Days trek tour for Mount Kailash in Saga Dawa Festival 2020.
This trip starts from Lhasa, through Gyantse, Shigatse, visit Mt. Everest Base Camp, proceed northward to Saga, then arrive at Mount Kailash, and finally go back to Lhasa. Along the way, you will visit the Potala Palace, Johkang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery in Lhasa and around, Lake Yamdrok in Shannan, Pelchor Monastery in Gyantse, and Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. Then go to Ngari to witness Lake Manasarovar, participate in the Saga Dawa Festival, and do the Mount Kailash kora.

Travelers' Questions Might Help

The questions raised by our past customers can help you get a more clear picture about tours to Tibet, read them or tell us your own questions via the form on the right side, our specialists will reply you within 24 hours.

Hello I am planning a trip to Katmandu and on to Lhasa and Mt. Kalias. I am pilgrim. Let me know costs and details I intend to fly or go overload from Katmandu Lhasa etc. Thx.

Answered by
Helen

Dear Mr. To***,

Thanks very much for your inquiry. Travelling to Tibet from Nepal, you need to apply for Chinese Group Visa in Kathmandu. Firstly, we'll apply for visa invitation letter with copy of your passport. Next, we'll send visa invitation letter to you and our partner in Kathmandu. When you arrive in Kathmandu, you need to meet with our partner and give them your original passport, then they will go to Chinese embassy and apply for Chinese Group Visa for you. When you board plane from Kathmandu to Lhasa, they'll only check your passport and Chinese Group Visa. Apart from Chinese Group Visa, you also need Tibet Permit, we'lll apply for Tibet Permit for you in Lhasa, and our guide will pick you up at Lhasa airport with your permit. I will send detailed itinerary to your email, please check it. Thanks & Regards